Combination air conditioner and refrigerator



` July 22', 1941.` .P. MANuscALco 2,249,772

COMBINATION AIN coNnITIoNEN `NND NEFNIGENAIOR FIIdMay 18, 1940'sheen-sheet i July 22,1941. P. MANlscALeQ 2,249,772

COMBI-NATION AIR CONDITION-ER AND REFRIGERATOR #Harney P. MANlscALcovCOMBINATION AIR CONDITIONER AND 4REFRIGE'RA'IOR Filed May 18, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 4.`

July 22,. 1941.

/1 f, /f f Patented July 22, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICElCOMBINATION AIB CQNDITIONER AND REFBIGEEATOB Pietro Maniscalco, Toledo,Ohio.

Application May 18, 1940, Serial No. 335,983 19 claims. V(cl. 62-1'34)'I'his invention relates to improvements in a combination airconditioner and refrigerator.-

One of the main objectsof this invention is to provide a domestic typeof refrigerator combined with air conditioning means, to be especiallysuited for use in the kitchen, and likewise for use in other rooms inthe home and in apartments, and the like; whereby the customaryrefrigeration for food and drink is provided, and the air may also becooled and conditioned whenever Lesired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a domestic type ofrefrigerator equipped with an air conditioner which -is adapted to coolthe air, and -which is furthermore adapted and is selec'- tivelyoperable to either remove the moisture of condensation from the air anddehydrate the air, when it .is excessively moist; or else to restoresuch moisture to the air while circulating thru is warm; and can also-be readily shut-off to utilize the refrigerator alone, when thetemperature is moderate; and which can furthermore be utilized forconditioning the air, while the refrigerator is retained idle. w

Another object of this invention is to provide a combinationrefrigerator and air conditioner whlch'is arranged to freeze a quantityof water around the air passage and utilize it in cooling the air, andthereby provide a hold-over or excess of stored cooling medium, adaptedto beV utilized morefparticularlyduring the warmer 'period or theday.

These and various other objects and advantages are attained with thisinvention, 'as will part o1' the cabinet, taken along line 3-3 of Fig.1, showing the improved heat exhausting means on themachinery chamber.

`Fig. 4 is a plan view of the air deecting means, which is removably andadjustably mounted on the cabinet.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the invention, taken online 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig 6 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line 6B of Fig. '5, thethermostat being omitted th refrom.

7 is an enlarged Partial sectional view. taken on line I-l of Fig. 1,illustrating the 'water freezing means and the air forcing means.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a refrigerating unit adaptedfor use with this Jinvention.

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view, being taining means arranged foradding moisture to the air passing thru the conditioner.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the A spraying means, taken online I 0-I0 of Fig. 9.

l or refrigerator I2 including a storage chamber become apparent fromthe following description,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings -wherein theinvention is illustrated in its preferred form, it being apparent thatvarious other arrangements and forms of construction may be adopted forcarrying out the objects and purposes of this invention.

In the drawings:

F18. 1 is 'a front elevational view of a combination air conditioner andrefrigerator having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a sideelevational view thereof, with.

parts broken away.

for food and drink. Said cabinet is provided with insulated walls,including a rear wall I3, 'side walls I4V and I5, a top I6, a lowerpartitioning wall I1, and a front wall vI8 containing an insulated doorI9 therein providing access to the refrigerator chamber I2. The lowerDart I5' `of side wall I5, which extends along the intake part' ofconditioner II, vneed not be irl-- sulated.

A bottom wall 20 is spaced below wall I'I, providing a machinery chamber2l therebetween which houses the refrigerating unit 22', whilesupporting legs 23 'space said bottom wall 20 above the floor. Saidchamber 2i includes a removable front plate 24, thus providing access tothe machinery in said chamber, and includes inlet louvres 25 at oneside, and an exhaust opening 26 at theopposite side which is providedwith a when the air conditioner is not in use.

Heat exhausting means is furthermore pro vided on the machinery chamberZI and includes similar to Fig. 7, but indicating the several water conapanel 29 slidable in said flange means 26 and having. an exhaust conduit3| extendingtherefrom, which has a mounting shield or plate 32 at itsouter end adapted to be mountable in a window frame.V Said shield has apart 32 extendible thereon, bythe use of means 33, as indicated in Fig.1, to be suited for windows of various widths.

Ihe refrigerating unit 22 in compartment 2| may be of a standard type,being shown herein as comprisingv a compressor 35, a driving motor 36, acondensor 31, a tank 36, and the refrigerant conduits connecting thesame, including a feed conduit 39 extending from tank 36 and equippedwith an expansion valve 4I, and also a return conduit 42 for returningthe refrigerant to the compressor. A fan 44 is driven by the motor 36,for moving the air thru the inlet openings 25 and over the condenser andother members, and from chamber 2| out thru the outlet opening 26, tocool the heated members oi'A the refrigerating unit.

'I'he refrigerating part or storage chamber I2 is provided with aninsulated partitioning wall 46 placed intermediate the two side walls I4and I5, and continuing with a curved upper portion 41,v thus providingan air channel in the space between wall parts I6 and I5', and 46 and41. An insulated partitioning wall 46 extends from part 41 across theupper part of the cabinet and provides the top of the storage chamber,

while a cooling unit including coils 46 is posi-v tioned in the-storagechamber I2, these coils being connected with conduits and 42 of therefrigerating unit, as indicated in Fig. 8.

The air conditioning mechanism II comprises an air conducting channelextending thru the cabinet I and including a primary cooling chamber 6|atthelower part of the cabinet, and a secondary or main cooling chamber52 at the4 small motor 64 for driving said fan is also sup- Y,interposed between said coils end said conduit, to be closedwhen thecooling coils 4jcftlae're4 frigerator alone are actuated, withoututilizing lthe air cooling means.

y relation with thewater Jacket,'a`nd it preferably posed in itsconductor wires |66 and |66'Y which ported on said curved'por-tion 41,said'fan forcing Ythe air from. chamber 5| upwardly thru chamber 52. Adoor 55 in rear wall I3 provides access to motor 54.

Anannular water receptacle or drip trough 56 is supported on wall 46;and a' water jacket 51 is supported by lugs 56 .on said trough toprovide a space 58 between said trough and jacket, as

indicated in Fig. 5, for the air to .circulate there- 55 thru and aroundsaid jacket. Said jacket includes spaced and substantially annular walls53 and 59 providing a chamber 5 1 adapted to contain water therein,while. a detachable cover 66 is placed on said jacket when the air ismoist.. and is removable therefrom to expose the water in chamber 51' tothe air, when it is desired to add moisture to the circulating air, asindicated in Fig. 9.

Primary cooling means' or coils 6`| are pro` vided in chamber 5|"and areconnected by a conduit 62 with the return conduit 42 of therefrigerating/unit' 22, while a shut-of! valve 63 is fA main freezingunit 64 islpl'aced Lin thermal includes coils 6 5 pOSitioned in theWater .iii the while coils 66 are connected by a conduit 66 withconduitI 39 of the refrigerating unit.

A shutolf valve 66 is interposed in conduit 66, adapted to shut off thefreezing unit when the air conditioner is not in use.

An inlet opening 1I is provided at the lower end of chamber 5|, and-hasdoors or slidable panels 12 mounted therein by guide means 13,

" so that said inlet opening can be opened to the size desired and canbe closed entirely when the conditioner is not in use.

The outletopening 14 in the top I6 ofithe cabinet is provided withdeflectingmeans 15 which is removable from opening 14 and can be turnedand placed therein and its vanes 16 can be suitably tilted, so as todeiiect the air in the particular direction and at the particular slantdesired, as well as to direct it vertically up from the outlet opening.-A cover 11 is provided, and

' forced closely along 'coils 66 and the inner wall 53 of the waterJacket, to properly utilize the c ooling eect'of thefreezing unit, whilethe cool air around the outside of theA jacket will be drawn thru space56' by suction and carried along up A with the air forced upward aroundspreader 6I.

A drain pipe 63 is depended from trough 56 to at the lower end ofchamber 5|, and therefrom thru a discharge pipe 65 to a receptacle 66,as indicated in the drawings, or to any suitable drain means. A shut-oilvalve 61 with a handle 61' is provided on pipe 63, and a shut-off valve66 with a handle 66 is provided on a pipe 65, for closing said pipesand. retaining the moisture respectively in trough 56 vand likewise inpan 64, when it is desired to add moisture to the air circulating thruthe conditioner. A plug 66 closes an aperture in the bottom of trough56, and a rod v91| arising therefrom can be manipulated to re,

lease said plug for draining trough 56.

. sprinkling means 6I is also provided and includes a tubular nozzlewith openings,` being supported by a conduit 62 which depends fromtrough 56, into the upper part of chamber 5|, so as to sprinkle thelwater from said trough into the air ascending thru the air channel. Avalve V63 with a handle 93' is also provided on conduit.

62,- so as to close the valve whenever the sprinkler is not to be used.

Control means is also provided to enable operating the two motors 36 and54 together, when the air conditioner as well as the refrigerator areare connected with said wires 61 and 61'. l

A thermostat may also be provided having a tube |02 extending therefromto a thermal element |03 which is placed adjacent the freezing unit 64,being shown in Fig. 9 as mounted on coils 66. .A finger |04-"on thethermostat actuates a switch |05 which is interposed in wire 91', so asto break the circuitof `motor 36, whenever the temperature of thefreezing coils and of the Water in the jacket chamber 51' hasdescendedbelow the desired degree.

With this combination arrangement and construction the driving 'motor 36can be retained idle, and motor 54 alone operated-to drive fan 53; thusadapting this device for merely humidifying the air when it is dry andthe weather is sufficiently cool, while the refrigerator and the aircooling means with its motor 36 are retained idle. The jacket 51 is thenfllled with water and left uncovered, and the air spreader 8| is alsofilled with water, as shown in Fig. 9, and the pan 84 is then likewiselfilled with water with the valve 88 closed; thereby causing the airwhich is being forced by the fan thru the conditioning chambers 5| and52 to absorb moisture from the Water contained in jacket 51, spreader8|, and pan 84. l

For ldehydrating the air, when it contains an excessive amount ofmoisture, the cover 60 is retained on jacket 51 and valve 93 onsprinkling means 9| is closed, while valves 81 and 88 on the` drainpipes 83 and 85 are opened, thus enabling the moisture of condensationfrom jacket 51 and coils 66, which has dripped into trough 56, to beVdrained from the trough thru said drain pipes into suitable drain means.

When the air is normal or not too moist, then the sprinkling means 9| ispreferably utilized, by opening its valve 93, and closing the valve 81on drain pipe 83, thus causing the moisture of condensation from thejacket and coils to be sprinkled into the air ascending thru chamber 5|;thereby returning the moisture of condensation to the circulating airand also aiding in settling dust particles and impurities that arepresent in the air.

When the air is too dry, then drain valve 81 in drain pipe 83 is closed,while valve 83 on sprinkler 9| is opened, and the cover 60 from thejacket 51 is removed, and at the same time valve 88 in drain pipe 85 isclosed, to retain water in pan 84, and water may also be placed in thebowlshaped air spreader 8|. The moisture of condensation is therebyreturned thru trough 56 and sprinkler 9| to the circulating air; and atthe same time the water in the open jacket chamber 51', and in the pan84, and optionally in the air spreader 8|, will thru evaporation addmoisturel to the circulating air, thereby effectively moistening the dryair.

Both of the motors 36 and 54 will be operated in utilizing the devicefor cooling and conditioning the air.

It is apparent from the above disclosure that this invention presents` atrue combination construction of air conditioner and refrigerator to beused in conjunction, and which can also be used for either purposealone; and that it is adapted to be utilized for cooling the air, andalso for removing moisture from the air when it is too Wet, or'foradding moisture to the air when it is too dry.

I claim:

1. In a domestic type of refrigerator including a cabinet provided witha storageA chamber and a refrigerating unit, air conditioning meanscomrestore moisture of condensation to the air cir-l f culating thru thechannel, or to remove said moisture for dehydrating the air.

2. In a domestic type of refrigerator including j a cabinet providedwith a refrigerating unit and with an insulated storage chamber adaptedto be cooled by said unit, air conditioning and conducting means withinthe cabinet and including air inlet and outlet means, a jacket providingan annular water chamber interposed in said air conducting means andformingv part thereof, a freezing unit in thermal relation with saidjacket and operable by rsaid refrigerating unit adapted to freeze waterin the jacket, a water receptacle below the jacket adapted to receivemoisture condensed on the latter, means to Aforce the air thru theconducting means, and sprinkling means connected with said receptacle todistribute the moisture of condensation into the air circulating thruthe conducting means.

3. The subject matter set forth in claim 2,

wherein the sprinkling means is provided with a shut-off valve, and avalve controlled drain means is provided for the receptacle, whereby toeither return the moisture of condensation to the circulating air orelse to remove such moisture for dehydrating the air.

4. In a domestic type of refrigerator including a cabinet containing amachinery chamber having a refrigerating unit therein and a storagechamber insulated therefrom, air conditioning means comprising an airchannel extending thru the cabinet and including inletv and outlet meansthereon, means to conduct heated air from the machinery chamber out ofthe room which is being conditioned, an annular water containerinterposed in said channel and its central part forming a part thereof,a freezing unit in thermal relation with said container and operable bythe refrigerating unit to freeze water in the-container, means toV forcethe air thru the channel,

- a receptacle below the container to receive moisture condensed on thewalls of the latter, 'sprinkling means connected with said receptacle todistribute the moisture of condensation into the air in saidchannel,'and a receptacle with valveequipped drain means in the lowerpart of said adapted to receive and either to retain the sprinkled watertherein or to drain it therefrom.

5. In a domestic type of refrigerator including a cabinet-containing astorage chamber and a machinery chamber having a refrigerating unittherein, an air conditioner comprising an air channel extending thru thecabinet adjacent the storage chamber and including lower inlet means andupper outlet means, a jacket with spaced walls providing an annularwater chamber having an openable top and its central part forming partof said channel, a freezing unit in thermal relation 'with said jacketand operable by the refrigerating unit, means to force the air upwardthru the channel and jacket, a trough below the jacket to receivemoisture of condensation therefrom, a dished air spreader at the lowerpart of the jacket to spread the air against the inner wall thereof, andsprinkling means depending from the trough to distribute moisture in theair ascending in the channel, whereby said air spreader is adapted tocontain water, and it with the open jacket and the sprinkler are adaptedto humidify the circulating air.

6. The subject matter set forth in claim 5, wherein the trough is spacedbelow the jacket, adapting the cool air from around the outside of thejacket to be drawn thru said space and forced along upward with the airflowing thru the jacket.

7. In a domestic type of refrigerator including a cabinet having a lowerchamber containing a refrigerating unit and an insulated storage chamberabove the same, air conditioning means in the cabinet comprising an airinlet at the lower part of thev cabinet and an air channel arisingtherefrom along the storage chamber having air outlet means withdeflecting means at its upper end, heat exhausting means to dischargeheated air from said lower chamber to a point remote therefrom, troughmeans at the upper part of said air channel and provided with means tospray moisture into the ascending air, an annular water jacket abovesaid trough means and spaced above the same to provide an aircirculating space therebetween, the central part of the jacket providingthe upper part of the air channel, and means below said trough andprotected thereby from moisture of the jacket, adapted to force the airthru said channel and outlet means.

8. The subject matter set forth in claim 7, wherein the spraying meansare depended from the lower-end of the trough into the air channel, thetop of the water jacket is adapted to be held open, and moisturecontaining means with valve-controlled drain means is provided at thebottom of said channel adjacent the inlet means, whereby to humidify theair.

9. In a domestic type of refrigerator including a cabinet provided witha chamber having a refrigerating unit therein, exhaust means todischarge heated air from said chamber and unit, an air channelextending thru the cabinet and provided with a lower inlet and an upperoutlet,

an annular water jacket at the upper end of said air channel and forminga part thereof, a water receptacle below the jacket to receive moistureof condensation from the same, a freezing unit in thermal relation withsaid jacket and actuatedby said refrigerating unit, fan means below saidwater container and protected thereby from moisture of the jacket,adapted to force the air un thru said channel and outlet means, meansplaced centrally in the lower part of the jacket to spread the airtoward the inner wall thereof, and means depending from thereceptacle toconvey moisture therefrom.

10. The subject matter set forth in claim 9, wherein the top of thewater jacket is adapted to be held open, and the air spreading means isdish-shaped adapted to contain water therein, adapting the device forhumidifying the circulating air.

11. 'I'he subject matter set forth in claim 9, wherein said dependingmeans includes means to sprinkle moisture into the air channel, the topof the water jacket is adapted `to be held open, the air spreading meansis adapted to contain water therein, and moisture receiving means withvalve-controlled means-is provided at the .cluding an inlet part withair inlet means and an outlet part with air outlet means thereon, ajacket with spaced walls providing an annular water chamber mounted insaid outlet part and forming part of said channel, a freezing unit-inthermal relation with said jacket and a primary cooling coil in saidinlet part and connected with said unit, both being actuated by saidrefrigerating unit, means to receive moisture of condensation from saidjacket and to distribute it in the air in said channel, and means toforce the air thru said channel for conditioning the same.

13. In a domestic type of refrigerator including a cabinet containing'amachinery chamber with a refrigerating unit therein and a storagechamber insulated therefrom, an air conditioner in said cabinetcomprising an air channel including an inlet chamber with air inletmeans extending along said storage chamber and an outlet chamber Ahavingair outlet means with air deecting means thereon, means to conductheated air from saidv machinery chamber-to a point remote therefrom, ajacket with spacedwalls providing an annular water chamber mounted insaid outlet chamber and forming part of said air charmel, a blower fanmounted between said two chambers to force the air thru said channel, atrough spaced below said jacket to receive condensed'moisture from thelatter and protect the fan from said moisture, a freezing unit in ther-Amal relation with said jacket and a primary cooling coil in said inletchamber, both being actuated by said refrigerating unit. and meansconnected with said trough to sprinkle moisture into the air in saidchannel.

14. In a domestic type of refrigerator including a cabinet containing amachinery chamber with a refrigerating unit therein and a storagechamber insulated therefrom, an air conditioner in said cabinetcomprising an air channelincluding an inlet chamber with inlet meansat'the lower end and an outlet chamber with outlet means at the upperend, a jacket with spaced walls providing an annular water chamberpositioned adjacent said outlet means and forming part of the channel,sets of coils actuated by the refrigerating unit and including a primarycoil in the inlet chamber and a pair of freezing coils. one placed inthe water between the walls of the jacket and the other placed in theair channel adjacent the inner jacket wall, means to receive moisture ofcondensation from, said jacket and to conduct the same away therefrom.and means to force air thru said channel.

15. 'I'he subject matter set forth inl claim 14, wherein the moistureconducting means includes valve-controlled drain means and alsovalvecontrolled sprinkling means, either one being selectively usable toserve either in dehydrating the air or in molstening the air.

16. The subject matter set forth in claim 14, wherein the moistureconducting means is provided with sprinkling means in the air channel.dished means is provided in the jacket to spread the air against itsinner wall and the coils inward thereof, said dished means is adapted tocontain water, and the top of the water jacket is adapted l to beretained open, whereby to humidify the circulating air.

17. A devicebf the character described comprising a cabinet containing amachinery chamber with a refrigerating unit therein, air conditioningmeans in lsaid cabinet containing an air channel extending therethru andincluding an inlet part with air inlet means at one end and air outletmeans with adjustable deiiecting means at the other end, a jacket withspaced walls providing an annular water chamber with an openable topmounted near said outlet means and its central part forming part of saidchannel,l

cooling means including a main cooling unit associated with said jacketand primary cooling coils mounted in sa.d inlet part and connected withsaid cooling unit, both being actuated by said refrigerating unit, meansto force the air thru said channel, means to spread the air against theinner wall of the jacket, means to receive moisture of condensation fromsaid jacket and said cooling unit, means on the receptacle means todistribute said moisture into the air in said channel, drain means onsaid receptacle means, and control-valve means adapted to shut oi eithersaid distributing means or said drain means while the other remainsoperative.

18. A combination air conditioner andrefrigerator comprising a cabinetcontaining a refrigerating unit with a driving motor, an insulatedstorage chamber containing a. cooling unit actuated by saidrefrigerating unit, an air channel extending thru the cabinet andincluding lower inlet means and upper outlet means, an annular waterJacket interposed in the channel near the outlet means, a chilling unitassociated with the jacket and operable by the refrigerating unit,control means for shutting-off the chilling unit, a moisture receptaclebeneath the jacket and being provided with valve-controlled drain meansand also with valve-controlled sprinkling means extending into saidchannel, adapted to selectively utilize either the drain means or thesprinkling means to either dehydrate the circulating air or torehumidify the same, air forcing means inthe channel and a' drivingmember therefor, and control means for retaining either said drivingmember or said driving motor inactive while the other is active,adapting the device to be utilized only as a refrigerator or likewiseonly as an air circulating mechanism, 'or both in combination.

19. A combination air conditioner and refrigerator comprising a cabinetcontaining a machinery chamber at its lower end having a refrigeratingunit therein, means to conduct heated air from said chamber, aninsulated storage chamber in said cabinet containing a cooling unitactuated by said refrlgerating unit, an air channel extending thru thecabinet and including lower inlet means and also upper outletv meansprovided with readily adjustable and removable deflecting means thereon,an annular water jacket interposed in said channel and its central partproviding an air passage adjacent the outlet means, a freezing unitincluding coils positioned in the water in said jacket and also coilspositioned in said air passage, said unit being operable by therefrigerating unit, means for forcing air thru -the channel, deilectingmeans interposed in the channel above said forcing means to direct airtoward the inner wall of said jacket, a moisture receptacle. beneath thejacket and provided with sprinkling means adapted to moisten thecirculating air, a drain pipe depending from said receptacle, controlvalve means for said sprinkling means and also for said pipe, to'selectively shut-off either one thereof and utilize the other, andcontrol means for said freezing unit, whereby to render it eitherinoperative or operative along with said cooling unit of the storagechamber.

PIETRO MANISCALCO.

